Inflation aspirator lock



July 3, 1962 R. .1. FRAEBEL INFLATION ASPIRATOR Loox Filed July 18, 1960 INVENTORZ ROBE/77' l/ FREBEL,

A flor/rey,

3,042,299 INFLATIUN ASPERATOR LUCK Robert I. Fraebel, Red Bank, NJ., assiguor to The Garret Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 1S, 1969, Ser. No. 43,612 6 Claims. (Cl. 22M- 95) This invention relates generally to apparatus for inflating devices such as life rafts, escape slides, shelters and other structures which are designed to be filled with air or gases under relatively low pressure. In view of the fact that life rafts and escape slides are used in the evacuation of abandoned craft, the inating apparatus for these devices must not only be able to inflate the device rapidly, Ibut must also be capable of maintaining the preselected pressure within the inflated device for long periods of time. Leakage of air or gas out of the inated device therefore must be held to a minimum.

Container-inflating apparatus of the type shown in the Crawford et al. Patent, No. 2,772,829, is now used to in ate life rafts, escape slides, and other emergency devices. The apparatus disclosed in the above noted patent includes a jet pump or aspirator which has a body of tubular configuration, a nozzle for directing a jet-like stream of air or gas from a suitable source into or through the body, and check valve means movable between an open position providing for the entrance of atmospheric air into the container and a closed position for preventing the escape of air from the container.

While the aspirator in the above-noted patent will quickly inflate a container, under some circumstances there is danger that after the container is inflated the check valve means may inadvertently or accidentally be opened and permit the escape of air or gas from the container. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide container-inflating apparatus of the type shown in the above Crawford et al. patent with means for locking the check valve means in the closed position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide container-inilating apparatus of the aforementioned type with means associated with the jet nozzle for locking the check valve means in the closed position.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide container-infiatiug apparatus of the aforementioned type having yieldable means urging the locking means into engagement with the check valve means, the uid under pressure acting in opposition to the yieldable means to urge the locking means away from the check valve means and unlock it.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following detailed specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawing in which one form of the invention has been illustrated.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a View of an ination aspirator of the type shown in the aforementioned Crawford et al. Patent No. 2,772,829, having a device for locking the check valve in the closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the piston of the inflated apparatus.

Referring to the drawing there is shown inflation apparatus including a tank or bottle 11 connected to a conduit 12 and having a valve 13 for controlling flow of high pressure air or other fluid issuing from the tank to a regulator 14. The construction and operation of regulators suitable for this use are known in the art, an example be- States Patent O 3,042,290 Patented July 3, 1962 ing shown and described in the Crawford et al. U.S. Patent 2,935,084. The regulator 14 reduces the pressure of the fluid issuing from the tank 11 and. maintains the air owing from the regulator at a predetermined pressure. It should be noted, however, that the regulator 14 is not necessary to the functioning of the locking device disclosed herein and may be omitted.

A conduit 15 leads from the regulator 14 to a jet pump or aspirator, shown Igenerally at 16, which is secured in the inlet of a collapsible container, such as a fabric or plastic bag 17, a portion only of which has been illustrated in the drawing. The bag 17 may be a life raft, an escape slide, or other type of inflatable device.

The aspirator 16 is adapted to eect rapid ination of the 'bag 17 and includes a body 18 which, in the present instance, has an inlet end 20 of rectangular or square cross section which converges into an outlet portion 21 having a circular cross section. The inlet section 20 is provided with an external ange 22 which is secured to a valve plate shown generally at 23. The valve plate 23 is also rectangular, to conform to the inlet section 20, and is provided with a peripheral flange 24. The anges 22 and 24 are secured together by fastening means such as screws 25, the head of the screws securing a collar 26 to the aspirator and serving to unite the aspirator and the bag 17, the connection between the aspirator and bag being made airtight by clamping the bag between the collar and the valve plate.

A rubber or other flexible plate-like member 30 is secured between flange 22 of the body 20 and flange 24 of the valve plate 23 in airtight relationship with the body.

The member 30 has slots 38 and 39 formed therein to provide substantially rectangular check valve flaps 40 and 41, these aps being joined with the member 36 along regions located at opposed sides of the inlet section of the 4body 18. This arrangement permits the valve aps 40 and 41 to swing into the body without undue interference. The valve plate 23 is provided along the sides of the openings formed therein with flanges 42 which engage the valve aps 40 and 41 on two sides to prevent these elements from swinging outwardly under the iniluence of pressure within the body 18 or the bag 17. When the ap valves engage the flanges, an airtight joint will be formed. The flaps may, if desired, be reinforced by moulding them about fabric or metallic sheeting 43 during the formation of the member 3G. This reinforcement will prevent the flaps from flexing when pressure urges them against the flanges.

The valve plate 23, in the present illustration, has a rib 51 extending from opposite sides of the plate 23 to a cylinder 52 disposed centrally of the plate, the plate pro viding a rectangular opening constituting a continuation of the inlet portion of the body 18. The cylinder 52 is provided with a tting 53 threaded at one end to receive the conduit 15 and having a chamber 54 for receiving uid from the regulator 14. A piston 55 disposed for longitudinal movement Within the cylinder 52 is provided with a passage 56 for conducting air or fluid from. the chamber 54 to a restricted nozzle 58 formed in a locking bar 60 secured on the other end of the piston in the manner hereinafter described. It will be noted that the nozzle S8 terminates at a point spaced inwardly from the flap valves. This arrangement prevents the high velocity air issuing from the nozzle from engaging the flaps and tending to swing them toward the open position.

The means provided for locking the valve flaps 4t) and 41 in the closed position includes the locking bar 60` which is secured to the lower end of the piston 55 by a press t or other means well known in the art and extends outwardly from each side of the piston. A spring 62 disposed between a shoulder 63 formed on the piston 55 and an opposing shoulder 64 formed on the inner surface of the cylinder 52 urges the piston in the upwardly direction and tends to move the bar 60 into engagement with the ilapsfl and -41. Thepiston 55 is provided with a helical.

groove 66 formed on its peripheral surface which is adapted to receive a -matching key 67 extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the cylinder'', the key 67 and the groove 66 coacting to rotatethe piston abouty its longitudinal axis. simultaneously as it moves axially within theV cylinder.

Prior to, initiating inflation of the container the force ofthevspringl 62 acting through the piston 55 will urge the locking-bar 60 into contact with the cheek valves 4l? and 41 and the locking bar will assume the position shown` infull in FIGURE 2, lying across the check valves and locking them in the closed position.

When it is desired to inflate the container, the valve lf) onthe bottle 11 is opened tofpermithigh pressure fluid to ow from the bottle through theV regulator ld to the chamber 54. The pressure of the fluid ink chamber d actingr onfthe piston55 will overcome-the force of the spring 62 and move the piston downwardly within the cylinder 512. As the piston movesdownwardly the key 67 and the groove 66-coact to rotate the piston about its longitudinal axis sothat the locking bar 6i) rotates as it moves downwardly and moves from the position snownV in full in FIGURE 2 to a positionparallel with the contiguous inner edges of the valve flaps, as shown in phantom in FIGURES 2 and 3.

As the locking bar 60v moves to the unlocked position, the jet stream of air issuing from the orifice 58 mixes with the; air in thefbody 18 and flows throughV the outlet portion 21 of the body into the bag 17. This ow of air reduces the pressure at thel inlet end below the atmospheric pressure existing externally of the bag and the pressure of the atmospheric airV acting on the outer surfaces-of' the 'flap valves 40 and fil. swings the valves inwardly toward an open position, permitting the at-mospheric, air to enter the bag and mix with the jet stream issuingfrom the nozzle.

When the'pressure at theY source isV reduced andthe velocity oft-he jet falls, the tendency of the air within the container to flow outwardly throughthe body will cause the check valves to close. Since the pressure of the air romthe source will still' be above that of the container, air will` continue lto flow from the nozzle and tend to increase the pressure within the container.

As-the pressure of theflluidin the container approaches the pressure of the lluidin the inlet chamber 54 the force of the spring 62 acting, on the piston 55 will move the pistonin.theupwarddirection and the locking barV 6lwil1 'be rotated to lie across the check va1ves40 and 4l, lockingrthemsin the closed position. When the storage pressure in the bottle is shut olf thespring 62 will continue to urgethe piston 55 in the upward direction and the locking bar willcontinue to hold the checkyalves inthe closed position.

While theinvention hasbeen illustrated in one embodiment only, lmany. minor changes may be made inthe formation andarrangement of` parts without departing from the spirit andscope of. the, invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1'.V Inapparatusfor inating a container, an aspirator comprising. a, body having inlet and outlet ends, said body being formed for attachment to the container tobe inilated; nozzle means projectinfy into said body at the inlet end; thereof for directing a jet of. fluid into said body, said nozzlel means being arrangedv for communication with a source of fluid under pressure; check valve means mounted for swinging movement into said body at the inlet end thereof, said check valve means being adapted to swing inwardly in response to fluid flowing through said, nozzle means into an open position providing for theV entrance of ambient atmosphere into said container sasso and to swing outwardly in response to pressure of fluid in the container to a closed position preventing the escape of air from said container; and locking means including a member normally adapted to be urged into engagement 5 with said check valve means to hold said check valve means in said closed position, said fluid under pressure acting on said locking means to move said member away from said check valve means to permit said check valve means to open to admit ambient atmosphere.

2. In apparatus for inflat-ing a container, an aspirator comprising a body having inlet and outlet ends, said body i eing formed for attachment to the container to be inllated; nozzle means projecting into said body at the inlet end thereof, saidV nozzle means being formed for cornmunication with a source of fluid under pressure; check valve means supported adjacent the 'wall of said body at the inlet end thereof, said check valve means being mounted for swinging movement into said body to open in response to fluid flowing through said nozzle means toy admit ambient atmosphere; means for limiting outwardswinging movement of said check valve means to prevent escape of air from said container when said container is inflated; and locking means normally including resilient means adapted tourge said locking means into engagement with said check valve means to maintain said check valve means in position to prevent escape of air from vsaid container, said iiuid under pressure acting on said locking means in opposition to said resilient means to urge said locking means away from said check valve means` to permit said check valve means to swing into saidbody to open.

3. In apparatus for inating a container, an aspirator comprising a body having inlet and outlet ends, said body being formed for attachment to the container to be inflated;check valve means at the inlet end ofsaidbody, said checlcvalve means being` movable between an open position providing for the entrance of ambient atmosphere into said container and ay closed position preventing the escape of air from said container; piston means having a passageway arranged for communication with a source of iiuid under pressure and terminating in nozzle means projecting into said body at thefinlet endthereof;

locking means for said check valve means carriedV by said piston means; and resilient means cooperating with said piston means to hold said locking means in engagement with said check valve means to lock said check valve means in closed position, said fluid under pressure acting on said piston means in opposition to said resilient means to urge said locking lmeans away from said check valve means, to permit said check valve means to open toadmit ambient atmosphere.

4. in apparatus for inflating a container, an aspirator comprising a body having inlet and outlet ends, said body being formed for attachment to the container to be intiated; check valve means at the inlet end of said body, said check valve means being movable between an open position providing for the entrance of ambient atmosphere into said container and a closed position preventingV the escape of air from said container; locking means including a piston having a passageway arranged for communication with a source offuid under pressure and terminating in nozzle means inwardly beyond said check valve means; and resilient means cooperating with saidV piston to urge said locking means into engagement with said check valve means to lock said check valve means insaid closed position, said fluid under pressure acting on said piston in opposition to said resilient means to urge said locking means away from said check valve means to permit said check valve means to open to admit ambient atmosphere.

5. In apparatus for inflating a container, an aspirator comprising a body having inlet and outlet ends, said body being formed for attachment to the container to berin flated; a jet nozzle projectinginto said body at the inlet end thereof, said nozzle being formed for communicationV with a source of fluid under pressure; a plurality of check valves supported adjacent the wall of said body at the inlet end thereof, said check valves being mounted for swinging movement into said body in response to fluid flowing through said nozzle to admit ambient atmosphere; means for limiting outward swinging movement of said check valves to prevent escape of air Ifrom said container when said container is inated; and locking means including a member normally adapted to be urged into engagement with said check valves to hold said check valves in position to prevent escape of air from said con tainer, said fluid under pressure acting on said locking means to move said member away from said check valves to permit said check valves to swing inwardly in said body to admit ambient atmosphere.

6. In apparatus for iniiating a container, an aspirator comprising a body having inlet and outlet ends, said body being formed for attachment to the container to be inflated; a jet nozzle projecting into said body at the inlet end thereof, said nozzle being formed for communication with a source of fluid under pressure; a plurality of check i@ valves supported adjacent the wall of said body at the inlet end thereof, said check valves being mounted for swinging movement into said body in response to fluid owing through said nozzle to admit ambient atmosphere; means for limiting outward swinging movement of said check valves to prevent escape of air from said container when said container is inated; and locking means including a member normally adapted to be urged into engagement with said check valves to hold said check valves in position to prevent escape of air from said container, said fluid under pressure acting on said locking means to rotate said member out of engagement with said check valves to permit said check valves to swing inwardly in said body to admit ambient atmosphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,772,829 Crawford et al. Dec. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 608,672 Great Britain Sept, 20, 1948 

